Dusit International, one of Thailand’s foremost hotel and property development companies, recently organised the India Roadshow 2018 as part of its newly acquired focus on India as a source market for its hotels and resorts.

Designed to present Dusit’s ever-growing global portfolio of distinctive properties to the Indian travel trade fraternity, the roadshow featured one-day workshops held in both Mumbai and Bangalore. B2B sessions were held in the morning, while sessions for wedding planners were held in the afternoon.

On both occasions, Dusit executives presented the company’s award-winning properties in Thailand, Maldives, and Dubai, as well as key openings in 2018 across Bahrain, Bhutan, China, Philippines, Singapore, and Vietnam. They also revealed how they are exploring options to open Dusit-branded properties, under hotel management or franchise models, in India within the next three-to-five years.

Historically, Dusit Hotels & Resorts in Thailand have proved a popular choice for Indian Weddings. Last year they recorded 21 per cent more business in this segment compared to 2016, and they expect to achieve even more in 2018.

With outbound travel in India increasing by about 25 per cent a year and expected to reach 50 million travellers by 2020, this offers huge potential for hospitality companies such as Dusit International, which is well positioned to capitalise on this growth.

“As evidenced by the recent opening of our new Global Sales Office in Mumbai, India is a key market for our international properties, and this roadshow is just one of the ways we are actively promoting our brands and gracious hospitality to Indian travellers,” said Ms Prachoom Tantiprasertsuk, Vice President Sales, Dusit International. “Taking into account our own expansion, which will see our current tally of 27 properties top 80 worldwide within the next four-to-five years, we will be well positioned to leverage the rapid growth of India’s outbound market with a plethora of options for MICE and leisure travellers. As brand recognition in India increases, we will also look to tap into the lucrative domestic market, with Dusit-branded properties in key cities nationwide.”

Dusit International is represented in India by its Global Sales Office in Mumbai, headed by Ms Keshwar Bhagat, Director of Sales.

Mr Ekapol Poolpipat, Consul General of Thailand in Mumbai, and Ms Soraya Homchuen, Director of Tourism Authority of Thailand, also attended the roadshow in Mumbai.